Eating Disorders Can Kill You
Eating disorders are not just passing whims or a simple desire to become thin. They are serious disorders that can not only affect your health and vitality, they can be life-threatening. And while eating disorders primarily affect teen-age girls, more and more women as well as boys and men are being affected. According to the National Institutes of Health, eating disorders are among the most frustrating and most difficult-to-treat conditions. Associated with these disorders are depression, substance abuse and anxiety disorders. They can also lead to heart and kidney disorders.
The three main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
Those with anorexia nervosa imagine themselves as being overweight, even though they are extremely thin. They are essentially starving themselves.
Other symptoms of this disorder include:
- a relentless pursuit to be thin
- unwilling to maintain a normal weight
- a distorted body image
- intense fear of gaining weight
- lack of menstruation among girls and women
- repeatedly weighing themselves
- portioning food carefully; eating only small amounts of only certain foods
- excessive exercise
- self-induced vomiting
- misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas
Over a period of time, other symptoms may appear, such as:
- thinning bones
- brittle hair and nails
- dry, yellowish skin
- growth of fine hair over the body
- mild anemia and muscle weakness
- severe constipation
- low blood pressure
- slow pulse and breathing
- feeling cold all the time
- being extremely tired and lethargic
Bulimia Nervosa
People with bulimia nervosa eat unusually large amounts of food. they then compensate by purging (vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics), fasting or exercising excessively.
Other symptoms include:
- frequently eating large amounts of food (binge-eating)
- feeling a lack of control over the eating
- binging and purging in secret
- feelings of shame and disgust
- intensely unhappy with body size and shape despite normal height and weight
Binge Eating Disorder
A person who suffers from binge-eating disorder binge but do not purge. They generally become overweight or obese.
Other symptoms include:
- frequently eating large amounts of food
- unable to control the eating behavior
- feelings of guilt, shame and/or distress about the eating behavior, which can lead to more binge eating
IF A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY HAS ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE, MEDICAL HELP SHOULD BE SOUGHT. INDIVIDUALS SIMPLY CAN NOT OVERCOME THESE DISORDERS BY THEMSELVES.
Treatment Options
Current treatment options may include mental health therapy, nutritional counseling and medicines. On-line intervention programs also have shown some promise among some college-aged women who are at high risk of developing an eating disorder. Family-based therapy where parents take an active role in a child’s treatment has also had favorable results. This approach is also being used with adult couples in which one of the partners has anorexia nervosa.
Additional information on eating disorders can be found in the Spring, 2008 issue of the MedlinePlus magazine. You can also find information by doing a search on “Eating Disorders” at the MedlinePlus website (http://medlineplus.gov/). Also check out “Eating Disorders” at the National Institute of Mental Health website (http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0047/default.asp).